Off-Duty Crew in Passenger Bars

[golfadj]

double wow

 

triple wow

[golfadj]

Crew ordering drinks at a passenger bar brings up a question.

 

I know for example beer costs them a buck at the crew bar. Do they get a discount when they buy drinks at passenger bars?

[sc4125]

As you can see from my signature, I worked onboard 3 of CCL ships back in the 80's as a Gift Shop "girl" and manager. We were allowed to be out in the club (back then called the Disco) but were not allowed on the dance floor. The officers, on the other hand, were encouraged to interact with passengers, get the ladies up on the dance floor, etc. There was ALOT of interaction between officers and female passengers - many repeat passengers and even some marriages. Remember this was back in the "Love Boat" days.

 

At that time there were no staff/officer bars on any of Carnival ships, though there was a "crew" bar. All of us girls were out in the passenger bars just about every night & laying out on deck when in port and off duty. Officers were required to be in uniforms, but the staff (casino, gift shop, photogs, entertainment staff) were not to wear their uniforms, and for the most part we were not recognized by passengers until later in the week.

 

I was an officer (Purser) on Pacquet Cruise Lines and we did have a staff/officer bar. If I were out in public areas, on-duty or off, I had to be in uniform - to be honest it was much better for me to be in the officers bar hanging out with my friends and I spent very little time in passenger areas.

 

Even back then on CCL, we knew that we were not to take the "best" tables, and if it got crowded (which it never really did), we knew to make sure that we were to leave if passengers needed somewhere to sit.

 

Had a great time back then, though it's obviously changed a lot. I'm sure that the staff still has fun, and there are enough of them that if they have their own places to hang out, that's no doubt where they prefer to be. No offense, but the last thing most crewmembers want is to be around passengers on their time off - just saying. For any of you who work in the service industry, you'll know where I'm coming from.

 

But for those who complain - they will complain no matter what happens - some people just can't be happy no matter how hard they DON'T try

[cruizinisthebest]

There is a difference between staff and guest. Staff is there to take care of the guest. Many companies have rules that prevent staff and paying guest to mingle. Staff is not on vacation!

 

They are also provided with entertainment, bars, gyms, food etc. They have their own space equipped with everything they need. They also, signed a contract, and agreed to the life of a ship. They are not poor lonely souls. They live and work with over a thousand others. No need to feel sorry for them.

 

They're not poor lonely souls, but you are. Quadruple wow at this nasty, superior post.

 

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Edited July 21, 2014 by cruizinisthebest

[ch27088]

I get so tired of reading about a few passengers that complain because some of the crew are up and about among the passengers. First of all, they are not around us all the time. They are working hard to ensure that we have a wonderful time on our cruise. Second, if it's their time off, why can't they enjoy a drink, or one of the shows. As someone mentioned, some people believe that the crew members are "lower class", and these people need to get a life or find another cruise line. Carnival is a great cruise line, but by know mans are they considered the "luxury liner" of the ocean. If those few want that type of service, then they need their own personal yacht!

[vols_159]

On Jh fb post it was from Norman. Wonder if it was stormin Norman? And I'll agree the ship is big who cares if they mingle or eat at the buffet or mdr .. Fine with me

 

 

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[golfadj]

As you can see from my signature, I worked onboard 3 of CCL ships back in the 80's as a Gift Shop "girl" and manager. We were allowed to be out in the club (back then called the Disco) but were not allowed on the dance floor. The officers, on the other hand, were encouraged to interact with passengers, get the ladies up on the dance floor, etc. There was ALOT of interaction between officers and female passengers - many repeat passengers and even some marriages. Remember this was back in the "Love Boat" days.

 

At that time there were no staff/officer bars on any of Carnival ships, though there was a "crew" bar. All of us girls were out in the passenger bars just about every night & laying out on deck when in port and off duty. Officers were required to be in uniforms, but the staff (casino, gift shop, photogs, entertainment staff) were not to wear their uniforms, and for the most part we were not recognized by passengers until later in the week.

 

I was an officer (Purser) on Pacquet Cruise Lines and we did have a staff/officer bar. If I were out in public areas, on-duty or off, I had to be in uniform - to be honest it was much better for me to be in the officers bar hanging out with my friends and I spent very little time in passenger areas.

 

Even back then on CCL, we knew that we were not to take the "best" tables, and if it got crowded (which it never really did), we knew to make sure that we were to leave if passengers needed somewhere to sit.

 

Had a great time back then, though it's obviously changed a lot. I'm sure that the staff still has fun, and there are enough of them that if they have their own places to hang out, that's no doubt where they prefer to be. No offense, but the last thing most crewmembers want is to be around passengers on their time off - just saying. For any of you who work in the service industry, you'll know where I'm coming from.

 

But for those who complain - they will complain no matter what happens - some people just can't be happy no matter how hard they DON'T try

 

thanks so much for sharing and hope you come back with more info from your unique perspective.

[MichelleChell]

The complaint was that the Red Frog on Magic last week was so full of crew that the service was slow and they couldn't find anywhere to sit. Having been on the Magic and gone to the Red Frog with a couple crew members I will say they do like hanging here. It doesn't bother me at all and it is fun to get to know them. I doubt it actually slowed service because of the amount of crew in there. It was probably because it is a popular place.

[momof4boys]

sc4125 ...Loved hearing from your perspective, too!

 

We never mind if we see the crew out and about.

 

On our tender to Grand Cayman a couple of weeks ago a crew member sat with us. He was still really "on duty"...getting ready to help at the port area on land. He was from New York and was really friendly. (Yes I know...that's their job! :cool:) We were talking about comparing the Breeze which was next to us to our ship, the DREAM. He shared lots of the differences and when we moved on to our next topic of maybe sailing to Alaska...he had a lot of tips.

 

We also saw several crew at Paradise Beach when we went there. Also several officers stood at the back of the comedy club each night...never taking up a table.

 

I guess lots of people are like me...we hope the people who help us (doctors, nurses, teachers, servers, etc.) like and feel happy doing their jobs.

[VikkiGarcia]

My son works on the Carnival Liberty. He is the comedy club manager and can be in all passenger areas of the ship. The crew pay full/regular price for any drink they have on board in passenger areas. The crew bar is the only place they get crew price. They pay the same cover as guests to eat at the steakhouse or any coffee/bakery items. If you were ever to see the size of the crew bar, lounge, gameroom, gym, ect. you would see why the staff that can be in guest areas prefer it.

[BallFour4]

triple wow

 

Just wanted to quote you and say "I triple dog dare ya." circa 1983 Christmas Story...:)

 

There are crew, staff and officers, you will see only the top two tiers in the bars.

 

Honestly, there is a bar on a cruise ship every twenty steps, does it really matter?

Edited July 21, 2014 by BallFour4

[WetToes]

The staff and crew have their own bar, game rooms, dining room, etc....they have no reason to "mingle" when off duty.

 

You sound a 'little' snooty.

I think I'd prefer to "mingle" with the crew. ;)

[katiel53]

I have no problem with the staff being in the bars/lounges as long as the rules stated by JH are followed. I can understand if people were upset if they went to a bar and had no place to sit because a lot of the staff were there.

 

Having said the above, I am not one that goes to the bars late at night and I haven't seen the staff in the casino at the bar when I have been there. When I first started sailing, I was single and met a lot of crew people in the lounges/bars and off the ship in ports as well. I was also invited to several parties in the crew lounge. Those were the good old days and today I wouldn't be up at 2AM or 3AM now--- not even playing in the casino, lol.

 

By the way, the Norman that posted the complaint was NOT Stormin' Norman as he himself posted that he wasn't on the ship last week.

[halos]

John Heald posted a question today about a complaint from a guest regarding crew in the passenger bars. Do people really have a problem with this? Why?

 

I've only seen obvious crew in passenger bars a handful of times in 10 cruises with carnival, and I can't say it's ever bothered me at all.

 

Crew can only have a drink or two anyway (even when off duty they are required to remain legally sober in case of emergency) so how much can they really affect service?

smh.

Can't believe that someone would complain about this.

 

triple wow

x10

Edited July 21, 2014 by halos

[lauraezzell]

I don't see a problem with this. The crew are very hardworking people who don't have very much "down time". It's not like they can leave and go down the road to visit another place. The ship is only so big and as long as they are not interfering with any of the passengers, I don't see a problem with it. Even if I have to wait behind a crew member for something to drink, my vacation would NOT be ruined. Nor would I pitch a fit about it.

[Out to sea!]

John Heald posted a question today about a complaint from a guest regarding crew in the passenger bars. Do people really have a problem with this? Why?

 

I've only seen obvious crew in passenger bars a handful of times in 10 cruises with carnival, and I can't say it's ever bothered me at all.

 

Crew can only have a drink or two anyway (even when off duty they are required to remain legally sober in case of emergency) so how much can they really affect service?

 

Some people have problems with everything. I have no problem at all with any crewmember using passenger facilities.

[Out to sea!]

The staff and crew have their own bar, game rooms, dining room, etc....they have no reason to "mingle" when off duty.

 

Other than maybe they would like to talk to someone new???

[CHOPPERTESTER]

No issue with this at all.

 

One cruise we were in a Club and the Hotel Manager came up to us and asked if we wouldn't mind moving as he was having a night out with his deserving employees of the month and he needed the space to accommodate them. We said no problem, no worries. For the rest of the night our bar tab was taking care off.

 

Many times we have been in the disco late at night with staff (nametags evident) and no issues. They were always discrete and professional.

Edited July 21, 2014 by CHOPPERTESTER

[rhodester]

I believe that there is a difference between those who pay to be on the ship and those who are being paid to be on the ship. There are occasionally venues on board where space is limited and those should always be reserved for the paying guests (comedy club, production shows, Lido deck loungers, buffet at peak times).

[VikkiGarcia]

rhoadster: They have time restrictions on buffet per ship (my son after 8pm). They are never allowed to use the sunloungers on deck. Commedy Club only late show if seating available (9 times out of 10 already full) They are not allowed to gather in groups of more than 4. If at any time they notice that all the seating is gone at a venue. They must be the first to leave.

[Rudyard]

I normally don't have a problem with this. The only time it's bothered me was once my last cruise. On one night we couldn't get close to the Alchemy bar due to the crowd. Those who have been to one know that it's not that big to begin with. A lot of the crowd were crew as we could see their name badges.

[FlyingCruiserNJ]

John Heald posted a question today about a complaint from a guest regarding crew in the passenger bars. Do people really have a problem with this? Why?

 

I've only seen obvious crew in passenger bars a handful of times in 10 cruises with carnival, and I can't say it's ever bothered me at all.

 

Crew can only have a drink or two anyway (even when off duty they are required to remain legally sober in case of emergency) so how much can they really affect service?

 

They have separate bars and relaxation areas for crew. Alcoholic beverages are sold at deeply discounted rates to crew members when they are off duty. They strictly ban crewmembers from going into pax areas for leisure activities. I heard a story from a kitchen manager when I was doing a behind the fun tour about a few new hire crew members chilling in a public hot tub late one night off duty and that they were almost fired on the spot when a supervisor caught them. They are serious about that stuff. Personally I don't care too much if they want to hang in a public area from time to time and mingle with pax but honestly they probably don't really want to after having to deal with people al day long while they are at work.

[chef5674]

I was super glad to find crew in a bar on our last Celebrity cruise. DH got sick and I needed help in the middle of the night. No one answered when I called guest services and no one was at the desk. The officers got on the radio and someone was at our cabin before I even got back.

 

 

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[FlyingCruiserNJ]

Another thing I don't get is that off duty crewmembers have to wear their badges in public areas when hanging out off duty. Huh? I always thought if you're an off-duty employee and you wanted to hang in pax areas, the company would even look the other way as long as you didn't wear anything that could identify you as an employee. Especially if they are going to drink alcohol while wearing their employee badges. That part doesn't make sense to me.

[Honolulu Blue]

To answer the original question, I don't care what any of the crew does on their own time, or where they choose to do it.

 

Special thanks to sc4125 and VikkiGarcia for their personal perspectives.